Game 3 and Bologna
The day started even earlier with a game at 9:30 against a team from New Jersey, USA. Going into the game, the Timber Barons were in first place based on a tie in game one and a 4-0 win in game two. The team we played, however, is quite good and beat the girls 3-0. It was warm once again, but there was some relief playing in the morning. One of the girls blew out her cleats in the first game, and Dan wrapped her cleat to keep the heel on. In the warm up for this game, her other cleat separated at the heel as well, so again Dan stepped up to save the day. She looked more like a football linebacker than a soccer player, but it got her through until a new pair of boots could be obtained. We had a good view of the hillside where we are staying from the soccer field we played on. You can see the three castles in the distance perched atop the cliffs.
The day started even earlier with a game at 9:30 against a team from New Jersey, USA. Going into the game, the Timber Barons were in first place based on a tie in game one and a 4-0 win in game two. The team we played, however, is quite good and beat the girls 3-0. It was warm once again, but there was some relief playing in the morning. One of the girls blew out her cleats in the first game, and Dan wrapped her cleat to keep the heel on. In the warm up for this game, her other cleat separated at the heel as well, so again Dan stepped up to save the day. She looked more like a football linebacker than a soccer player, but it got her through until a new pair of boots could be obtained. We had a good view of the hillside where we are staying from the soccer field we played on. You can see the three castles in the distance perched atop the cliffs.
San Marino Castles, “Our hill” as one group member stated
After returning to our hotel to freshen up, we boarded the beloved tour bus once again and headed to the city of Bologna for a quick tour. Many of the guides we read stated that Bologna is an overlooked city, with Rome, Florence and Venice getting all the tourists. However, Bologna is noted for its good food, great wine and having the oldest college in Europe, the University of Bologna established in 1087.
We arrived at the bus station for our drop off and took a short walk to the Piazza Maggiore, the main square in town. Just outside the bus station are the remains from a wall from Roman times. It just amazes me how much from the Roman times remains within Europe. On the other side of the modern street the Roman wall continued, and the massive storm sewers, likely created at the same time as the wall, were continuing to be used today to collect and convey storm water.
After returning to our hotel to freshen up, we boarded the beloved tour bus once again and headed to the city of Bologna for a quick tour. Many of the guides we read stated that Bologna is an overlooked city, with Rome, Florence and Venice getting all the tourists. However, Bologna is noted for its good food, great wine and having the oldest college in Europe, the University of Bologna established in 1087.
We arrived at the bus station for our drop off and took a short walk to the Piazza Maggiore, the main square in town. Just outside the bus station are the remains from a wall from Roman times. It just amazes me how much from the Roman times remains within Europe. On the other side of the modern street the Roman wall continued, and the massive storm sewers, likely created at the same time as the wall, were continuing to be used today to collect and convey storm water.
Ancient Roman wall
We walked along the main street in Bologna, Independenzia, under a series of porticos in search of the leaning towers, the piazza Maggiore and some much needed food. The porticos were created by the decree of the city council of the time to provide refuge for visitors, and are wide enough to allow a man to lie down completely under shelter.
We walked along the main street in Bologna, Independenzia, under a series of porticos in search of the leaning towers, the piazza Maggiore and some much needed food. The porticos were created by the decree of the city council of the time to provide refuge for visitors, and are wide enough to allow a man to lie down completely under shelter.
One of many porticos along the street Independenzia
As we reached the Piazza Maggiore we had views of the leaning towers, the half finished church and the statue of Neptune. In the mid-evil times the towers were build by wealthy families and the taller the tower, the more money you had. The two towers in Bologna are from two families trying to out do one another. The towers have leaned over the years, with one leaning about 3 feet.
As we reached the Piazza Maggiore we had views of the leaning towers, the half finished church and the statue of Neptune. In the mid-evil times the towers were build by wealthy families and the taller the tower, the more money you had. The two towers in Bologna are from two families trying to out do one another. The towers have leaned over the years, with one leaning about 3 feet.
Leaning towers of Bologna
Dan and Carol in front of the Statue of Neptune
The church in the square was built to be the largest in the world, larger than St. Peter’s in Rome, but the money ran out and/or the Pope did not want a church larger than St. Peter’s, and the building was stopped. It started again years later, but instead of marble the building was continued in brick. It is an interesting sight to see.
The church in the square was built to be the largest in the world, larger than St. Peter’s in Rome, but the money ran out and/or the Pope did not want a church larger than St. Peter’s, and the building was stopped. It started again years later, but instead of marble the building was continued in brick. It is an interesting sight to see.
Unfinished church in Bologna
We wandered along the city streets in search of food, walking through portions of the University of Bologna, and sections off the beaten path and finally found a restaurant for the small group of us. We followed the advice of the waiter and had a typical Italian meal of an anti-pasta plate for starters followed by pasta. The anti-pasta plate had fresh, hot bread with a platter of meats (2 kinds of salami, mortadella and prosciutto) and a cheese spread. This was terrific, and if the meal had stopped there we would all have been happy. However, our second course was two dishes of pasta: an asparagus tortellona (a cross between tortellini and ravioli) and spaghetti Bolognese. This meal has been one of the best we have eaten so far, and seems typical that when you find small restaurants hidden within the city, they have some of the best food to enjoy. As we left the basement of the restaurant we noticed it had started to rain, and not just small drops like in Washington, but large buckets of rain that comes with thunderstorms. We all just shrugged our shoulders and made our way back to our starting point.
We wandered along the city streets in search of food, walking through portions of the University of Bologna, and sections off the beaten path and finally found a restaurant for the small group of us. We followed the advice of the waiter and had a typical Italian meal of an anti-pasta plate for starters followed by pasta. The anti-pasta plate had fresh, hot bread with a platter of meats (2 kinds of salami, mortadella and prosciutto) and a cheese spread. This was terrific, and if the meal had stopped there we would all have been happy. However, our second course was two dishes of pasta: an asparagus tortellona (a cross between tortellini and ravioli) and spaghetti Bolognese. This meal has been one of the best we have eaten so far, and seems typical that when you find small restaurants hidden within the city, they have some of the best food to enjoy. As we left the basement of the restaurant we noticed it had started to rain, and not just small drops like in Washington, but large buckets of rain that comes with thunderstorms. We all just shrugged our shoulders and made our way back to our starting point.
Dan and Carol after being drenched by the rain.
Alley in city of Bologna
Having spent just a small amount of time in the City of Bologna, it becomes apparent that the modern world must fit in with the ancient buildings of the city. It is fascinating to walk along the streets and see cars driving on cobblestone and brick roads, to use sidewalks and steps made with granite and marble, and to see ancient buildings and relics of the past melded with conveniences of today. As we passed another of the many churches in the city, we noticed an ATM machine cut into the wall of a building adjacent to the church. All around the city, artifacts from centuries ago are dotted with everyday articles of today. It was a short trip to Bologna and we could have spent several more hours exploring the many sights of Bologna.
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